Member States take positive step on the road to the effective implementation of transnational organized crime convention

22 October 2010 - The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime today made significant progress in agreeing to set up a working group to lay the ground for the possible adoption of a review mechanism in two years' time. A review mechanism would monitor the progress made by Member States in implementing the Convention.

In praising all delegations for their constructiveness and flexibility, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, said: "Let us hope that establishing a review mechanism for the Convention will help the international community confront transnational organized crime more effectively. It is in all of our interests to ensure that the Convention is implemented fully."

In referring to the plight of the victims of crime, Mr. Fedotov said: "Yesterday we had a powerful reminder from Mr. Nicolas Cage, UNODC's Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice, about the human impact of organized crime, especially its impact on children. We must never forget the victims, the ordinary people whose lives are damaged by criminals."

Mr. Fedotov also asked Member States to join him in his concern about the victims of crime, enlisting their support for the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking, which will be launched in early November in New York.

During its fifth session, held from 18 to 22 October, the Conference paid considerable attention to formulating and strengthening responses to new and emerging forms of transnational organized crime such as cybercrime, environmental crime and crimes against cultural property, and adopted a specific resolution on crimes involving cultural property.

In his concluding remarks to the Conference, Mr. Fedotov said: "The fifth session of the Conference of the Parties is over now, but we have much work ahead of us. To help maintain this week's positive momentum, let us never forget our ultimate goal: to create a world free of fear, a world in which all people can raise their children in communities that are safe and healthy and just."

The sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will take place in 2012.